Temperature indicator suitable for use upon or in connection with the radiators or internal-combustion engines of automobiles



Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,244

H. W. F. IRELAND TEMPERATURE INDICATOR SUITABLE FOR USE UFON OR INCONNECTION WITH THE RADIATORS 0R INTERNAL/COMBUSTION ENGINES OFAUTOMOBILES Filed July 28, 1925 Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

nuiren STATES 1,652,244 PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD WILLIAM FRANK IRELAND, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO CARLLOUIS BB-EEDEN, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

TEMPERATURE INDICATOR SUITABLE FOR USE UPON OR IN CONNECTION WITH THERADIATOBS OB INTERNAL-COMET) STION ENGINES 0F AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed July 28, 1925, Serial No. 46,545,,and in Great BritainOctober 31, 1924.

The present invention has relation to a temperature indicator inconnection with the radiators or internalcombustion engines ofautomobiles,jthe in vention having for its object to provide such adevice which is of simple construction, particularly eflicient inoperation, and which when used upon an automobile will clearly indicateto the driver or user the temperature existing as for instance in theair or vapour space above the water in the radiator, or the actualtemperatureof the water in the radiator, or the temperature of theengine, such as that of the water in any part of the cooling system.With this apparatus, when used as aforesaid, any overheating orinsuflicient heating, or any other variation from the normal is readilyconveyed to the driver.

According to the present invention I provide a temperature indicatorcomprising in combination, a bi-metallic strip, the metals of which havediffering co-efficients of expansion, a housing or frame thereforadapted to secure the strip at its one extremity, a toothed segmentpivoted within the housing or frame having a slotted extension of itselfslidably cooperating with the other or free extremity of the said stripand a pinion meshing with said segment and connected to an index finger.

The free extremity of the strip may carry a transverse pin whichslidably cooperates with the slotted extension of the toothed seg ment,and the said toothed segment and pinion may be mounted within a bracketcomprising two parallel plates attached to the main frame or housing.

In order that this invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into practice, reference may be had to the appended explanatorysheet of drawings, upon which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of atemperature indicator constructed. according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional side or edge elevation of the indicator shown inFigure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate in perspective component parts of the devicehereinafter referred to. I

In a convenient embodiment of the present invention the bi-metallicstrip or bar a com prises two oblong strips of metal having differingco-efficients of expansion such as iron and brass or copper and steel,and which are suitable for use upon or.

secured together superficially in such a mannor that when subjected toheat the strip or bar is automatically bent. This strip or bar a issecured atits lower part to a plug 6 in a tubular, housing I), to theupper part of which latter a somewhat cylindrical housing 5 is attachedor combined, closed at front and rear by suitable glass discs 6 Thetubular housing 5 may be adapted for attachment to the water cap of anautomobile radiator as for instance by the flange t and nut 6 operatingupon a screw thread, the top part of the cap being adapted to be clampedbetween the parts 6*, b Mounted within the upper or cylindrical part ofthe device is a bracket 0, (more particularly illustrated in Figure 3),comprising two plates adapted for attachment to the cylindrical body 6as for instance, by the part 0 Between these plates 0 a toothed segmentd is pivoted by axis pin 6Z1 and this segment has an extension d slottedas at (Z to engage the upper extremity of the bi-metallic strip a. Forthis purpose, the bi-metallio strip a (see particularly Figure 4)carries at its upper extremity a transverse pin a which may be secured,as for instanceby a U-shaped strip (E. The pin a is adapted to slidewithin the slot 6Z3. Mounted between the plates 0 is a pinion e on thespindle of which a pointer or index finger f is mounted.

' In operation it will be seen that upon the bi-metallic strip abecoming bent or flexed through the heat the segment (Z is actuated, thepin a slidably cooperating with the slot (Z and the temperature orconditions obtaining in the so-called air-space above the water can beidentified from the pointer The pointer 7 may be adapted to rotatethrough half-a-circle andv indications f f coloured as for examplerespectively white, green, and red may indicate to the driver theconditions asv previously stated obtaining in the so-called air-space ofthe water radiator above the level of the water.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. A temperature indicator suitable for use upon or in connectionwith the radiator or other part of an internal combustion engine,comprising a tubular housing, an apertured cylindrical casing carried atthe upper open end'of said housing, a plug in the lower part of saidhousing,a bimetallic strip held in said plug and extending upwardly insaid housing, a pin carried by said bimetallic strip, two narrow platesof invertedTshape secured to said cylindrical casing and forming abracket, a toothed seg ment pivotally mounted in said bracket andprovided with a bifurcated extension freely engaging said pin, a pinionrotatably mounted in said bracket in mesh with said toothed segment, anindex finger carried by said pinion, and two transparent disks formingthe covers'ot said cylindrical casing.

2. A temperature indicator suitable for use upon or in connection withthe radiator or other part of an internal combustion engine, comprisinga tubular housing, an apertured cylindrical casing carried at the upperopen end of said housing, a bimetallic strip secured in the lower partof said housing extending upwardly therein, an inverted U-shaped stripsecured to the free end of said bimetallic strip and carrying a pin, atoothed segment pivotally mounted within said casing and having aslotted extension engaging said pin, a pinion rotatably mounted in saidcasing in mesh with said toothed segment, an index finger carried bysaid pinion, and two transparent discs forming the covers of saidcylindrical casing.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand' HAROLD WlLLlAM FRANKIRELAND.

